Console sliding lid locator

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of vehicle storage compartments having closure panel assemblies that can comprise a first lid portion having a first lid surface on which a locating channel having opposing side walls is formed and a second lid portion on which first and second locating projections are formed. At least a portion of each of the first and second locating projections is received within the locating channel when the first and second lid portions are engaged. One of the first and second lid portions is moveable relative the other of the first and second lid portions between extended and retracted positions. The first and second locating projections are spaced apart in a direction of travel of the one of the first and second lid portions. The locating channel includes first and second reduced-width sections that contact the first and second locating projections, respectively, in the retracted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A closure panel assembly for a vehicle storage compartment comprising:
 a first lid portion having a first lid surface on which a locating channel having opposing side walls is formed; and 
 a second lid portion having a second lid surface that faces the first lid portion and on which first and second locating projections are formed, at least a portion of each of the first and second locating projections configured to be received within the locating channel when the first lid portion is engaged with the second lid portion, 
 wherein one of the first and second lid portions is slidably moveable relative the other of the first and second lid portions between extended and retracted positions, 
 wherein the first and second locating projections are spaced apart in a direction of travel of the one of the first and second lid portions, and 
 wherein the locating channel includes first and second reduced-width sections that contact the first and second locating projections, respectively, when the one of the first and second lid portions is in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       2. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second locating projections includes first and second side surfaces, the first side surface facing one of the opposing side walls of the locating channel and the second side surface facing the other of the opposing side walls of the locating channel, each of the side surfaces including widened portions configured to contact one of the first and second reduced-width sections of the locating channel when the one of the first and second lid portions is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The closure panel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a clearance between each of the opposing side walls of the locating channel and a widened portion of an adjacent one of the first and second side surfaces of the first and second locating projections is zero when the one of the first and second lid portions is in the retracted position and the clearance is greater than zero when the one of the first and second lid portions moves to the extended position. 
     
     
       4. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locating channel spans at least a majority of a length of the first lid portion. 
     
     
       5. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reduced-width sections of the locating channel are free from contact with the first and second locating projections, respectively, when the one of the first and second lid portions is in the extended position. 
     
     
       6. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second locating projections has a distal end surface and the locating channel has a recessed back surface, and wherein each distal end surface is free from contact with the recessed back surface when the first lid portion is engaged with the second lid portion. 
     
     
       7. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the reduced-width sections of the locating channel includes opposing contact walls and at least one inclined section, wherein each of the inclined sections extends between a lateral edge of a respective contact wall and an adjacent increased-width portion of the locating channel. 
     
     
       8. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slide rail mechanism coupled to both the first and second lid portions to facilitate sliding movement of the one of the first and second lid portions. 
 
     
     
       9. The closure panel assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the slide rail mechanism comprises a mounting bracket having at least one elongated aperture configured to receive a locator pin to position the first and second lid portions relative to each other in the direction of travel when the first and second lid portions are engaged. 
     
     
       10. The closure panel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the slide rail mechanism further comprises first and second slide members, the first slide member being attached to the mounting bracket, the second slide member being coupled to one of the first and second lid portions, and the mounting bracket being coupled to the other of the first and second lid portions. 
     
     
       11. The closure panel assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first lid surface of the first lid portion is bounded by opposing side walls defining a concave mounting recess, and wherein the second slide member is attached to one of the opposing side walls within the concave mounting recess. 
     
     
       12. The closure panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second lid portions is dimensioned to cover an opening in the vehicle storage compartment. 
     
     
       13. The closure panel assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle storage compartment is a center-mounted storage console. 
     
     
       14. The closure panel assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the direction of travel is parallel to a fore-to-aft direction of a vehicle. 
     
     
       15. A closure panel assembly for a vehicle console comprising:
 a first lid portion having a first lid surface on which a locating channel is formed, the locating channel having opposing side walls with first and second reduced-width sections; and 
 a second lid portion having a second lid surface facing the first lid surface and having first and second locating projections extending from the second lid surface, 
 wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second locating projections is received within the locating channel when the first lid portion is engaged with the second lid portion, 
 wherein the first lid portion is slidably moveable relative to the second lid portion between extended and retracted positions, 
 wherein the first and second locating projections are spaced apart in a direction of travel of the first lid portion, 
 wherein the first and second locating projections contact the first and second reduced-width sections of the locating channel, respectively, when the first lid portion is in the retracted position and are outside of the first and second reduced-width sections when the first lid portion is in the extended position, and 
 wherein the first and second locating projections do not contact the opposing side walls of the locating channel when the first lid portion is in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       16. The closure panel assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the locating channel spans at least a majority of a length of the first lid portion. 
     
     
       17. The closure panel assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first lid portion has a longitudinal center axis, wherein the locating channel is laterally spaced from the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
       18. The closure panel assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a slide rail mechanism including first and second slide members, the first slide member being attached to the first lid portion; and 
 a mounting bracket attached to the second slide member, wherein the second lid portion is coupled to the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       19. The closure panel assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting bracket includes at least one elongated aperture which receives a corresponding locator pin extending from the second lid surface of the second lid portion. 
     
     
       20. The closure panel assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first lid surface of the first lid portion is bounded by opposing side walls defining a concave mounting recess, and wherein the first slide member is attached to one of the opposing side walls within the concave mounting recess.